Questons about having a broody hen hatch eggs! Tips appreciated!

[Danny188]

I have a broody buff orpinton, this will be her first time hatching chicks, usually I would buy them but I dont want to have chicks shipped to me. I lost 6 chickens in a dog attack and I would like to hatch out 3 at least 3 pullets, if I get 7 that's fine, I will just sell the rest. So my question are, how many eggs can I put under her to hatch? I would like to put as many as possible because I am assuming half of them won't hatch, (I saw someone's statistics here on byc) and then half will be roosters. And can I let her sit on eggs tonight and add more tomorrow or will the days difference make something not work? If I can't do that how do I store the eggs today for tomorrow? She is sitting on 10 eggs right now as of 10 minutes ago she has been half broody for a while but I think if she spends a night in the nest box it will pin her to it, but she is definitely broody and I think tonite she will stay, if she doesn't I will take her off the roost and put her on the nest. Thanks for any help!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My hen hatched out all 5 eggs she had under her.

The most I've had under a hen without the nest failing is 11

 

[Danny188]

My hen hatched out all 5 eggs she had under her.

The most I've had under a hen without the nest failing is 11

Ok thanks I think the 10 she has right now will be plenty then, I might slip 2 more under her tomorrow to just in case.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

You can try. If they were bantam eggs, she could take more

 

[Danny188]

You can try. If they were bantam eggs, she could take more

They are full sized but she still has a little room I might only add one depending on how she is doing with the ones she has/if she is covering all of them.